Left Breast Reconstruction (Immediately Post Mastectomy)

I had stage 0 breast cancer (DCIS), diagnosed in December 2016, pre-Christmas. Needless to say, it was an eye opener to my otherwise routine, comfortable life -style. I was not living an unhealthy lifestyle...in fact, I ate well, I exercised regularly because I had interests in various sports and my annual health checks always came up roses. I was 44 years of age and had 4 children. Breastfed every one of them till I ran dry (1.5 - 3 years each - who said breastfeeding reduces chances of breast cancer? Haha. But that was my first thought.) The diagnosis came as a shock because no one ever thinks cancer will hit them next. The familiy has no cancer history. Immediately, I arranged meetings with breast surgeons and plastic reconstruction surgeons who worked closely with them. I must have spoken with (aka interviewed) 3 breast surgeons and their partnering reconstruction surgeons before deciding on the surgical team which would work on me.

Between diagnosis and surgery dates were Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year.

It was not easy not divulging news to the family over those seasonal periods of incessant merry-making and obligatory social gatherings. I was not prepared for how they would react (if badly, I did not want to expend energy calming them) nor for their questions/queries.

Throughout that time, and once I had decided on my team of surgeons, I was frequently busy emailing the surgeons questions, queries, insecurities. Tons of it.

On the surgery date, I did not feel nervous because I had hand-picked my surgeons and felt assured of their expertise and capabilites. I was nervous because I knew post surgery recovery would be long and arduous.

I was not disappointed. The surgeons both did excellently. I was cleared of my DCIS and simultaneously, Dr Chui reconstructed my mastectomised breast using my DIEP flap. The surgery took almost 11 hours in all. I was wheeled into the preparation room of the operating theatre 7am. Dr Chui stood next to me in the preparation room and asked if I felt ok, just prior to the anaesthetist wheeling me into the theatre.

Just before I was given GA, my breast surgeon put her hand on mine and smiled.

When I woke, it was past 7pm.

I am all recovered now. I had no post surgery complications. I healed according to schedule. I was up and about 3 days post surgery, albeit slowly and gingerly walking to the cafe downstairs from my ward for coffee with friends. Within 2 weeks, I was out walking my dog, slowly. After a month, I was comfortable doing all the usual things I used to do, brisk walking was fine, save for weight bearing activites which might have undone my reconstruction surgery. I travelled overseas after one month. After 2 months, I went back to yoga but took it real slowly and did not do extreme stretches or inversions. (Dr Chui said no core exercises because taking the DIEP flap affected a lot of muscle in that area and they needed time to heal properly) After 3 months, I practiced my regular yoga but listened to my body. After 4 months, I went back to playing football (Dr Chui did not exactly say it was ok. I think he said to avoid contact sports. I tried not to come into contact with anyone.) After 6 months, I stopped bugging Dr Chui with incessant questions via email or face-to-face. Because I felt fine and very well. I saw him subsequently for some steroid jabs to reduce scarring but nothing more significant than that. My reconstruction surgery had gone superbly.